K KANGSAR POLLS  “Things felt out of sorts during this morning’s pre-dawn meal (sahur). The empty seat at the table - it was enough to make us tear up and think of papa.”

This heartrending moment was shared by Wan Emir Astar Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar, the eldest son of BN candidate Mastura Mohd Yazid for the Kuala Kangsar by-election, when he was asked about the first day of fasting without his late father.

The seat fell vacant after Wan Mohammad Khai-il Anuar Wan Ahmad died in helicopter crash in Sebuyau, Sarawak during the state election campaign period on May 5.

Wan Emir Astar said meals with the family was a priority for his father during Ramadan, the fasting month observed by Muslims annually, which starts today.

“On the first day of fasting, no matter how busy he was, even if he was overseas or wherever, my father would join the family to celebrate the beginning of Ramadan,” he said.

Among the things that the family will miss the most, he said, is his father’s cooking.

“Papa was a good cook, he was good at making pasta. His steak meals were also delicious,” Wan Emir Astar told reporters at the BN operations centre in Kuala Kangsar today.

Mastura will not be on the campaign trail, as she is strictly observing the four month idah (mourning) period.

A conservative interpretation of the idah period requires a widow to not leave her home for four lunar months and 10 days following the death of her husband, but other scholars believe this is not required.

Wan Emir Astar, 26, was present at the nomination centre with his two brothers on their mother’s behalf yesterday.

The architecture student expressed confidence that his mother would continue Wan Mohamad Khair-il’s legacy in Kuala Kangsar.

The Kuala Kangsar by-election is a four-cornered contest between Mastura, PAS’ Perak wanita chief Dr Najihatussalehah Ahmad, Kuala Kangsar Amanah vice-head Ahmad Termizi Ramli and independent candidate Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary.

BN won by a margin of about one percent in a straight fight against PAS in the 2013 general election.

According to the Election Commission (EC), 32,949 people are eligible to vote come polling day on June 18.

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